Reach your social impact goals

Alcanza Impact is a Los Angeles-based consulting practice that partners with nonprofits, school systems, and philanthropic organizations seeking increased social impact. Founded by Vanessa Murrieta, we bring expertise in strategy and implementation, program design, and development. Alcanza means “reach”, and that’s what we help you do: reach your goals in service of—and with—the communities you care about most.

Vanessa brings twenty years of classroom and school system experience, foundation leadership, and strategic consulting. Previously, Vanessa was a program officer at Gates Foundation where she designed and led a portfolio dedicated to improving outcomes for students furthest from opportunity. She has experience prior to that as a consultant, having partnered with WestEd, Gates, and public K-12 school systems. Vanessa started her career as a high school special education teacher in Los Angeles. The through-line in her work has always been inclusion, equity, and access.  

She holds a BA in Global Studies and Sociology, minor in Applied Psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MA in Special Education from Loyola Marymount University. She is a certified Impact Philanthropy Advisor through Daylight Advisors and holds a Professional Facilitation Certification through Voltage Control. She is a proud daughter of immigrants and native Spanish speaker.